PHENOTYPIC AND GENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF CLINICAL STRAINS OF CDC GROUP IVC-2

CDC group IVc-2 is a gram-negative, oxidase-positive, nonfermentative bacillus that has been implicated in human infections, including septi cemia and peritonitis, Biochemically it most closely resembles Bordete lla bronchiseptica and Alcaligenes sp, Results of cellular fatty acid (CFA) and 16S rRNA gene analysis were combined with biochemical data r o assist in identification and classification. The predominant CFAs we re hexadecanoic acid (16:0), cis-9-hexadecanoic acid (16:1 omega 7c), cis-11-octadecanoic acid (18:1 omega 7c), and Delta-cis-9, 10-methylen ehexadecanoic acid (17:0 cyc). Small amounts (2 to 5%) of 3-hydroxytet radecanoic acid (3-OH-14:0), tetradecanoic acid (14:0), 2-hydroxyhexad ecanoic acid (2-OH-16:0), and Delta-cis-11,12-methyleneoctadecanoic ac id (19:0 cyc) were also consistently present. The highest 16S rNA gene similarity was with Ralstonia eutropha and Ralstonia solanacearum, Th e CFA and 16S rRNA gent sequence data support the inclusion of CDC gro up IVc-2 in the recently created genus Ralstonia, which includes R. eu tropha, R. pickettii, and R. solanacearum.